The crash occurred just after 4:30 p.m., on northbound SR 89 at milepost 353 just north of Chino Valley, in northern Yavapai County, the Department of Public Safety said.

Preliminary information indicated one vehicle crossed the center line and struck another vehicle head-on, causing one of the two vehicles to strike a third car parked on the shoulder of the highway, DPS said.

The impact caused at least two of the vehicles to catch fire, DPS said.

That fire then sparked a brush fire, officials added.

The road was closed in both directions for several hours, but reopened just after 9:30 p.m. Vehicles that were stuck in traffic when the road closed had been forced to turn around toward Chino Valley, the department said.

🚨: Troopers are on scene of a multi-vehicle crash involving both fatalities and injuries on SR-89 at MP 353. Both directions of travel are closed. We are working with @ArizonaDOT to re-route traffic. There was also a brush fire as a result. No ETA to re-open.